DENVER — Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012 — Gov. John Hickenlooper today ordered flags be lowered to half-staff on all public buildings statewide on Friday, Sept. 7, in honor of both Army Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Birdwell and Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Leide William DeFusco.

Birdwell, 25, of Windsor, died on Aug. 27, 2012, in Laghman Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He died of injuries sustained from small arms fire while on dismounted patrol. Birdwell was assigned to A Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson.

DeFusco, 43, died Aug. 31, 2012, in the line of duty, while conducting a narcotics investigation from an aircraft in the San Isabel National Forest. A memorial service for DeFusco will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, at Praise Assembly of God, 2000 Troy Ave., Pueblo.